1 Participate, activate, create: Volunteer. 2 What we’ll cover What is a volunteer? Why become a...

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Participate, activate, create: Volunteer

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What we’ll cover

• What is a volunteer?

• Why become a volunteer?

• Your rights as a volunteer

• How to become a volunteer

• Your questions and comments

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Volunteering – it’s not what you think it is…

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You can…

• Masquerade as a dignitary, perhaps even the queen…

• Do a spot of bird watching, or breed frogs in your swimming pool

• Unearth ancient treasures

• Walk with a brown-eyed girl

• Turn your hand to knitting

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You can…

• Invent a life-altering aid

• Go surfing or ten pin bowling

• Help plan a campaign

• Count every drop

• Hit the road

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What is a volunteer?

When you are a volunteer you:• choose to give your skills and time

• help out the community and the not-for-profit organisation you volunteer with

• get something out of it yourself

• do it for free

• work in a specially assigned volunteer role

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Things to remember about volunteering

• It’s always a matter of choice

• It only takes place in the not-for-profit sector

• It’s about participating in the community

• It’s unpaid

• It creates positive change

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Everyone counts

• In 2004, 6.3 million Australians over the age of 18 volunteered

• They contributed approximately 836 million hours – on average, 132 hours each

• Most volunteers are aged from 35-44 years. Those who worked the most hours in 2002 were aged 65-74 (2.5 hours per week)

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Why is volunteering important?

• It empowers individuals • It adds value to not-for-profit organisations • It strengthens communities • It’s worth billions to the community

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Volunteering: give it a try

Do you want to:• give something back to the community?• work for social change?• have fun?• learn new skills?• help others?• gain work experience?

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It takes all types…

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Who benefits?

• the volunteer

• the organisation

• the client

• the community

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What’s it like to volunteer?

“Volunteering helps me put things in perspective –it keeps me in touch with my community and what other people’s lives are like.”

“It’s the best decision I’ve made.”

“In a word? Stimulating. And challenging. And sometimes tiring. But always rewarding – it’s incredibly rewarding. Actually, can I have more words?!”

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Volunteering happens everywhere

• Sport/recreation

• Community/welfare

• Health

• Emergency

• Education/training/youth development

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Volunteering happens everywhere

• Religious

• Environmental/animal welfare

• Business/professional/union

• Law/justice/political

• Arts/culture

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What can you do?

Empower people – teach & exchange skills

Be indispensable - administration & clerical

Provide nourishment - prepare & serve food

Help the world go around - transport people & goods

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What can you do?

• Keep things running smoothly – repair & maintain

• Save lives and property - emergency relief• Build a sustainable world - environment • Lead an organisation - management /

committee work• Make good work possible

- fundraising and sales

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Your rights as a volunteer

• To work in a healthy and safe environment

• To be covered by insurance

• Not to be discriminated against

• Not to do the work of paid staff

• To receive orientation and training

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What do organisations expect of you?

They’ll expect you to:– Be punctual and respectful of others– Tell them when something goes wrong or isn’t

working– Undertake any training you might need– Carry out the job you have agreed to

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Change your world …

START NOW!

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Choosing how and where

• How depends on what motivates you, your skills and the time available

• Where depends on which organisations meet your needs, and need your contribution

• GoVolunteer - www.volunteeringaustralia.org

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The application process:

diligent, but not daunting• Application

• Interview

• Screening process

• Police checks (if necessary)

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Questions?

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Change your world …

START NOW!